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joewein.de LLC
fighting spam and scams on the Internet
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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam
The so-called "419" scam is a type of fraud dominated by criminals from Nigeria and other countries in Africa. Victims of the scam are promised a large amount of money, such as a lottery prize, inheritance, money sitting in some bank account, etc.
Victims never receive this non-existent fortune but are tricked into sending their money to the criminals, who remain anonymous. They hide their real identity and location by using fake names and fake postal addresses as well as communicating via anonymous free email accounts and mobile phones.
Keep in mind that scammers DO NOT use their real names when defrauding people.
The criminals either abuse names of real people or companies or invent names or addresses.
Any real people or companies mentioned below have NO CONNECTION to the scammers!
Read more about such scams here or in our 419 FAQ. Use the Scam-O-Matic to verify suspect emails.
Click here to report a problem with this page.
Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:
- An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
- This email uses a separate reply address that is different from the sender address. Spammers use this to get replies even when the original spam sending accounts have been shut down. Also, sometimes the sender addresses are legitimate looking but fake and only the reply address is actually an email account controlled by the scammers.
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "activation fee" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "western union" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "mtcn" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- Western Union money transfer is completely untraceable and therefore is *not* safe to use with anyone you do not know personally. It is the preferred method of online criminals to collect money from their victims.
- This email lists free webmail addresses. Use of such addresses is typical for scams. Lotteries, banks and any but the smallest of companies do not normally use such addresses. Criminals use them to anonymously send and receive email at Internet cafes.
- wwesteruniontransferoffice@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "Mr. Anthony Robert" <youbmoney@gmail.com>
Reply-To: wwesteruniontransferoffice@gmail.com
Date: Sat, 12 Mar 2022 10:48:24 +0100
Subject: ATTENTION BENEFICIARY,
I have sent you several notices concerning the claim and transfer of your
fund that was paid to you as compensation from Burkina-Faso Republic
following my Petition against the Government as a human right activist to
compensate you with the sum of $3.5 Million Dollar, but I have not heard
from you ever since and I hope you will reply this last notice. You were
meant to be receiving $5,000 usd daily until it completes the total amount
of $3.5 Million Dollar.
NOTE: If you received this message in your SPAM/BULK folder that is because
of the restrictions implemented by your Internet Service Provider so treat
as urgently.
For better understanding of what I mean, please copy this link
https://www.westernunion.com /asp/order Status.asp?country
Then browser enter the following details on the displayed box fields and
click CHECK STATUS to track your money online with below information to see
that your fund is still available for you to pick up at any Western Union
office neatest to you.
(1) Sender's Name:--------------SANTOS CABALLERO
MTCN : -------------- 1111573047
Text Question:--------------- urgent
Answer: --------------- yes
Amount: --------------- USD $5000
The status now shows Available for pick up by receiver because this amount
has been on the system so long for security reasons, since I did not get
any reply message from you after sending you several notices with the
transaction details to enable you pick up your MTCN.
This amount will be made available again within 45 minutes at your resident
local western union office after you have settled the activation fee and I
will avail you with the full details of the first 2 M.T.C.N CONTROL NUMBERS
of $5,000 usd.
Regards
Mr. Anthony Robert
Western Union Money Transfer
Email )wwesteruniontransferoffice@gmail.com
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Anti-fraud resources:
